Mississippi's Senate race comes down to a few dozen votes, in the only state with no recount law

Two days after the midterms, Mississippi's U.S. Senate race is still undecided. Only a few dozen votes separate the candidates out of more than 900,000 cast.

WLBT reported that by 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with about 95.6% of ballots tabulated, Democrat Scott Colom had 462,821 votes and Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith had 462,778. That is a 43-vote lead. Independent Ty Pinkins had 19,935. The Mississippi Free Press still showed the 43-vote gap at midday. By Wednesday afternoon, Forbes reported, citing the Associated Press, that Colom's lead had grown to 65 votes.

Why it could take weeks

• Ballots still out. The Colom campaign estimates 10,000 to 15,000 affidavit ballots remain statewide, according to Mississippi Today, as cited by WLBT. The Mississippi Free Press counted about 9,000 uncounted votes in Hinds County alone.
• Late mail. Mississippi counts mail ballots that arrive up to five days after Election Day if they were postmarked by Nov. 3, Forbes and Democracy Docket reported.
• Deadlines. Counties must certify their totals by Friday, Nov. 13, and final results are due Thursday, Dec. 3, according to Forbes.
• No recount law. Mississippi has no automatic recount and no way to request one, the only state like that, Forbes and Democracy Docket reported. A recount would need a court order. Democracy Docket said the more likely fights are over whether individual ballots count. It also noted that the U.S. Senate has the final say over its own members' elections.

There is no runoff, so the candidate with the most votes wins, WLBT noted.

What the candidates are saying

Hyde-Smith declared victory on election night. At a news conference on Wednesday, Colom said he expected the remaining ballots to put him over the top. He said his campaign had "an army of lawyers" watching the count, according to WLBT. Forbes reported that his campaign texted supporters asking for donations to a recount fund.

The stakes go beyond one seat. CBS News noted that Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982, and President Trump carried the state by 20 points in 2024. Democrats have already won the Senate majority. NBC News projected them at 54 seats before Mississippi and Alaska are decided.

Kansas governor also undecided

In Kansas, Democrat Cindy Holscher claimed victory in the governor's race, leading Republican Ty Masterson by 5,557 votes in unofficial results, KWCH reported. Gov. Laura Kelly congratulated her as governor-elect. Masterson has not conceded. He said the margin was close enough that state law calls for another look and that "every Kansan deserves to know the result is right." NBC Washington listed the race as uncalled on Wednesday, Nov. 4.